Nuclear core positioning system

ABSTRACT

A STRUCTURAL SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE CORE OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR WHICH ACHIEVES RELATIVELY RESTRICTED CLEARANCES AT OPERATING CONDITIONS AND YET ALLOWS SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN FUEL ASSEMBLIES AT REFUELING TEMPERATURS. AXIALLY DISPLACED SPACER PADS HAVING VARIABLE BETWEEN PAD SPACING AND A TEMPERATURE COMPENSATED RADIAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM ARE UTILIZED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCES BETWEEN THE FUEL ELEMENTS. THE CORE SUPPORT PLATES ARE CONSTRUCTED OF METALS SPECIALLY CHOSEN SUCH THAT DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL EXPANSION PRODUCES POSITIVE RESTRAINT AT OPERATING TEMPERTURES.

i drawings contained in the application as originally filed. The files of these applications are available to the public for inspection and reproduction may be purchased for 30 cents a sheet.

e of Dec. 16, 1969, 869 0.6. 687. The abstracts of Defensive Publication applications are identified by distinctly numbered series and are arranged chronologically.

the merits of alleged invention. The Patent Oflice makes PUBLISHED JUNE 26, 1973 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Published at the request of the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notic The heading of each abstract indicates the number of pages of specification, including claims and sheets 0 Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to no assertion as to the novelty of the disclosed subject matters t Y. .l 3 Wm? mwmnmwm m e 3 .7. [ch u e m MGm nmwmmmmmm e m m s. Pm u a m fl' n Ofet #Mm S m fio nm m Pi a c twrw lw sire, mm whe mo Gw. ,1 mm a b n M2 W mS M m y o w mw me w wmm s mfi ismw 0 L3 8?. Qn. r un M &c owm1 mum w mu 0 1 ,0 1 e m m mw l m l m. f m. t I 10. SCI/G .IENCRM: h Pm iw. sl im mm e rit um wm ww p m R hhfl fim wmw awnfi 0c E. UaO H mm mm. GER E rn emb mt m0 RM MD oewm m fi o w a m hm m uahm mm m Lr nm h co e m m Cmmfi wwm mw m i WM .w s wgf aufim S w mw mm mm w mm m a Auwms mmamm H mob mmmdmpw H PM m" June 26,1913

Filed Dec. 21, 1971 H. D. GARKISCH ET AL NUCLEAR CORE POSITIONING SYSII'JM 3 Sheefs-Sheet .1

June. 26, 1973 Filed Dcc'. 21, 1971 H. D. GARKISCH ET AL NUCLEAR CORE POSITIONING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-$heet ,1

- June 26, 1973 HLQ GARMSCH ET AL T9l1,0l5

NUCLEAR .CORE POSITIONING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 21, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 w M a d #5 

